The City of Mati LGU has activated its incident management team (IMT) for the novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease, the African Swine Fever, and the H5N1 bird flu.

In an Executive Order No. 19 Series of 2020, City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat said that there is a need to activate the IMT to manage the possible effects of the three highly infectious diseases.

The IMT is composed of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the City Veterinarian Office, the City Agriculturist, the City Information Office, the City Engineering, City Health, Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office, Mati City Police, Department of Education, MCES-SPED, Bureau of Fire, Philippine National Red Cross, and DOSMART (Davao Oriental Search Mobilization and Rescue Team).

As of this writing, the City of Mati remains to be free from ASF, nCoV, and H5N1.

The City Veterinarian Office have already instituted measures to prevent the entry of ASF in the city.

City Health Office, together with the City Vet, is also conducting series of fora in the barangays to educate the public on how to prevent ASF and how to protect themselves against 2019 nCoV and H5N1.

City Health Officer Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan meanwhile advised the public against the “virus of disinformation” and avoid sharing or posting unconfirmed reports about the virus in the social media.

Catbagan advised the public not to panic and maintain proper hygiene practice in their homes and community.

He also discouraged the public from wearing face masks unnecessarily as this could contribute to the growing mass hysteria.

The World Health Organization says that only those who have respiratory symptoms like cough and difficulty in breathing or those providing care to the sick are urged to wear face masks. (CIO MATI)